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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-09-13, Page 14THE HURON EXPOSITOR, 'SEPTE'MBER 13, 19R9 13A BEAN KNIFE ,CLEARANCE SALE Program -trains and COL) ns is employment ;aged BY 'SONIA BJORKQUIST A new Huron County program called HELP (Huron Employment Liaison Pro- gram) integrates employment - .disadvantaged adults into the work force, :offering a valuable community service, says program manager Valerie Bolton. The government -funded, non-profit organization teaches life skills, resume .and interview techniques, .,and work skills to people with barriers to employment. Onsite work placements give HELP students a final boost into the working world, and more generally, into the community. "In today's society, we really value people by what they do. There's a way in which having a job can be a very healthy thing. To be unemployed is almost to be set aside from the community," Bolton said. • In the five months the program has been operating, there have been more than 78 applicants, including 15 from Goderich and the immediate area. People from 16 to 65 years old with domestic problems, or with social, health or economic barriers, can get counselling and training through HELP. Some ap- plicants simply lack job skills or educa- tion. Others have problems with child care or transportation. These barriers may have contributed to problems in past employment, or may have restricted people from working at all, Bolton said. DETERMINED TO WORK "I'm amazed at how many people there are that are motivated to work. But 1 look at the personal circumstances, issues and challenges they face, and 1 really admire and respect these people for their determination and spunk in wan- ting to be part of the work force," Bolton said. Many applicants are referred to the HELP office in Clinton by other Huron County services such as the Survival Through Friendship House, the Huron Ad- diction Assessment Referral Centre, and Huron County Social Services. "A person applies to be in our .program and we have them fill out an application. Then one of our counsellors (at HELP) meets privately with them to assess whether they have serious barriers to employment that we could help them overcome." "People who don't have a lot of bar- riers are referred to other services," Bolton added. After being accepted to the program, HELP students have access to the of- fice's facilities, including a resource room and library, typewriters and computers for resumes, and counselling services. Even contact with other employment - disadvantaged people can be therapeutic, Bolton said. HELP students are paid minimum wage by the federal government ( Employment and Immigration's Employ- ment Development Branch) "to work at the job of being employable," "Often the job of being employable – arranging for childcare, getting a driver's Reconsideration saves planner's jo BY BILL HENRY A contract planner's job with Huron County almost ended after less than a week when county council voted down its planning committee's recommendation to hire a person to expand the economic development information system. But the negative vote was reversed on a 26-4 recorded vote in favor after ad- ministrators explained what the council had voted against. The employee was hired Sept. 1 as part of a marketing data project included in the planning department's budget this year and funded jointly by the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the federal Department of Employment and Immigration. None of the $27,000 budgeted for the project is county money, Sites considered for Huronview explained • planning department spokesman Wayne Caldwell. "This is completely external funding," Caldwell said. But although this was highlighted in the planning committee meeting minutes from Jul 11. it had little affect on the vote until after Caldwell outlined the fun- ding structure and the reason for the position. "They've got their finger in every pie in the county," said Coun. Robert Fisher, reeve of Zurich. He criticized the plann- ing department for its involvement .in waste management, economic develop- ment and tourism instead of dealing with planning matters on the county's behalf. Others agreed, at least at first, because the vote was obviously lost on first call. When Warden Dave Johnston asked to see a full show of hands, it was defeated again. "We've just defeated something that was executed on the first of September," said Coun, Lionel Wilder, reeve of Hay Township. "What do we do now.?" Court. Gerry (Usborne Township) Pro- ut's solution was simple. He asked for another vote, which carried almost unanimously. It was the second negative vote that council had reversed that day, after earlier rejecting, then reconsidering, a plan to reduce the resident population at Huronview. The issue also gave Exeter's two representatives, Reeve Bill Mickle and Deputy -Reeve Lossey Fuller, an opening for silent protest against the planning department. Both left the chamber and refused to vote, since Exeter has been trying for years to opt out of, and not pay for, county planning services. Whether the municipality can opt out is currently being considered by the courts. license, finding appropriate housing, and learning basic expectations that employers will have – is one of the most difficult jobs a person will ever have. So we think they deserve' to be paid to do that job and be given the support and supervision they need," INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION With an average of 10 to 15 people in the program at •any time, counsellors work individually with students to help them overcome their barriers to employ- ment. The final steps involve intensive job coaching through businesses that volunteer to train students. HELP continues to pay the employee's wages, in return for the business's on-site job coaching. "This is where we provide a service to the employers in the community as well as to employment disadvantaged people," Bolton said, Well-trained students can be integrated into the work force quickly. And if HELP counsellors have been successful in work- ing with students to find satisfying jobs or careers, the students will probably be stable employees. "They could go out and get just any job, but in the long run it could be real- ly destructive to their families and to their own health to not be doing something they can relate to or that has meaning to them," Bolton said. The HELP program was developed following a county government needs assessment .program called SED (Severe- ly Employment Disadvantaged) which determined there was a need for the ser- vice. A board of directors was establish- ed a year ago, and conditional approval was granted by the government. Bolton was hired to develop a short- term contract and rewrite the proposed program in detail. "All through this the local Goderich Canada Employment Centre (CEC), managed by John Gillespie, was very supportive and encouraging and helpful," she said. With advice from the CEC, HELP was established by December. Three core staff members – counsellors Debbie Wilbee and Brad Burton, and of- fice manager Mary Burns – all deal with HELP students regularly. Hard Faded -Short 4121:00 Pair -Long 8138.00 Pair -Short 1194.00 Pair -Long 8105,00 Pair LUKE'S MACHINE SHOP LTD GALL 527-1080 Seetorth FOR COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION SALES & SERVICE PHONE 262-2020 BAILEY'S OF HENSALL LTD. LOSE THAT EXTRA WEIGHT FOR THE LAST TIME ... join COUNTDOWN WEIGHT LOSS & WEIGHT CONTROL Sputa( 004 .. ONLY 3500 to join, and only 5500 weekly Still no penaltie, tor weeks missed. We meet every .. WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. St. George's Anglican Church, Nelson St., Goderich 12:00 noon, Ontario St. United Church, Clinton 2:30 p.m. Seaforth Orange Hall 4:30 p.m. myth United Church afe druiera awe ga ' *000 4 sNraerni !Special offer valid only until end of September. So why weight any longer. For information, Kincardine Office 396-7005 Several sites are under consideration in parts of northern Huron County for the proposed new 81 home for the aged, one of two facilities which will replace Clin- ton's Huronview. Huron council agreed Thursday to take out options on two properties in Brussels and two in Morris Township. Least expensive would be land on an extension of Elizabeth Street in Brussels. optioned for one dollar purchase price. An 8 -acre site ,in Brussels would cost $50,000, as would a 7-ecre site under con- sideration on Morris Township's 6th con- cession. The fourth site, also in Morris on .County Road 12, was optioned for $30,000. County council last Thursday also agreed to hire the architectural firm of Gail E. Lamb to design the two facilities. at a fee of 6 per cent oT construction costs. The decision was made after the Huronview Committee of Management toured rest homes in Brantford, Niagara- on- he -Lake, Waterloo and the Lamb -built Royal Terrace in Palmerston. That tour was criticized at the council session, when former Huronview commit- tee chairman Lossey Fuller asked why such a study should be made when the committee last year also toured Ontario, with interested members of county coun- cil also on the bus. "I think it's a real waste of taxpayer's money....How many times are we going to do this before we come up with an answer?" she asked. "You have to accept that committees change," said Warder: Dave Johnston, who also advised that the tour had already taken place and the decision made, Myra Schiff Consultants have also been hired to complete the functional program, prior to architectural drawings, and will be paid up to $1050 to do so. Two facilities are being .built over the next several years to replace Huronview. In addition to the 81 bed home in the north, a 122 bed facility will be built in the central part of the county. No facili- ty has been approved for the south. Huron view administrator Wayne Lester told council it's still unclear whether both homes will be built at the same time, ugtil the provincial govern- ment gives final approval of the estimated $10 million project. But Lester said bis choice would be to build at the same time and make both moves within a month. The ;provincial government, awhich must still Agree to the final plan for an 81/143 bed split north and south; bas approved funding for 1090/91. ,Z•T .`. • � . n.• r. cR.h 0. 1?etreat Ah! Life's little luxuries. Kicking off your shoes at the end of the day. Tossing your clothes, and sinking into a nice, hot bath in your new ensuite Royal bathroom, In this case, the master bathroom of the Cape Cod, another precision built home in the Royal repertoire. And like all factory -built Royals, it speaks quality from the baseboards right through to the bathroom. See for yourself: IF YOU'VE 'GOT THE PROPERTY, WE'VE GOT YOUR SANCTUARY. 11225,680 grant will improve landfillsite A grant of $225,000 ;has ,been ,provided under Environment Ontario's Waste Management , iprovement ,Progrtam to the town sof Goderich for the ,improve - meat of its ,tentlfil11l1.. 'site, -:Environment Minister Jim ;Bradley.,and ,Jack Riddell, .MPP for Huron have,.anuoanced. The-Maste Management ,.improvement l-regrram,is intended, to; rovlderfinaneial •,assistance ,to rimuni ties :10 mme ettng ,the •latandards a (for Ithe e XlispOsal, of duineeUc•' rite• the hose ,Sof -I nde_. ch •.tpe sitindsci10 priwiderfor.scloauretof'thetrite. - w ta\li'� u • ' , oml}bE'Lf*ly 1115 tl ► Foil basement two's o es/ luxury ►Z,000 ect.F mu e5 adesPool tub, htoughO stage and u,g Toronto Sales Centre Major McKenzie Dnve & Hwy. 400 PO. Box 5396, Maple, Ont 1.6A 155 (416)832.1700 6800.387.7081 The Factory Home Builders FlOYAL HOIVMS Lgonef1 - — � i For our full colour catalogue, send $5.00 to your nearest Royal Homes Sales Centre Name IAddress City _ Postal Code _. Phone L_ Gss2. J Peterborough Sales Centre VI/Ingham Sales Centre Highway 7 East at Keene Road Htghway,86, 1 mile east of Wmgham P.O. Box 233, Peterborough, Ont K91011 P.O. Box 370, Wingham, Ont NOG ZWO (.705) 7,45.9474 1.800.461.6533 (519) 357,2606 1.800.265-3040 London Sales Centre Wharnclrffe Rd. between London and Lambeth AO 113, Lambeth, Ontario NOL 150 (51.9) 652.3535